Storm Debby downgraded after hitting Florida, still dumping rain

Tropical Storm Debby was downgraded to a tropical depression after hitting the US State of Florida last night, but it still packed heavy rains that threatened to worsen flooding along the Gulf Coast and inland towns, forecasters reported. Debby lumbered onto the marshy west coast near Steinhatchee, about 160 miles north of Tampa, on Tuesday afternoon, the US National Hurricane Center announced. But it was projected to dump another 4 to 8 inches of precipitation across the area through Wednesday evening, on top of the 2 feet reported in some towns south of Tallahassee by Tuesday, the (CNN) reported. In addition, storm and tidal surges caused flooding as far south as the Tampa Bay area, and it's blamed for one death from a tornado spawned Sunday afternoon in the town of Venus, far inland. Tropical storm warnings up and down the coast were dropped as the depression moved inland, but the storm left high water behind in several towns as it passed. US President Barack Obama called Florida Governor Rick Scott on Tuesday "to ensure the state had no unmet needs as the governor and his team continue to respond to extreme weather and flooding," the White House said. Obama "expressed his condolences for the loss of life as well as the extensive damage to homes in Florida as a result of the storm, and reiterated that his administration - through (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) - would remain in close contact with the state as they continued to respond to this event and stood ready to provide additional assistance if necessary," the White House added. Scott declared a state of emergency Monday "so we can coordinate the use of all state resources to make sure we can respond promptly if anything happens."